SOCCER:FOUR OF Fifa's six biggest sponsors upped the pressure on Sepp Blatter yesterday to accept reform of soccer's scandal-torn governing body.
While Blatter was opening the 61st Fifa Congress yesterday in Zurich, Switzerland, English soccer chiefs were seeking support for their proposal that today’s election, with the president as sole candidate, should be postponed.
Such an outcome appeared unlikely as even Jack Warner, the suspended vice-president who said on Monday Blatter must be stopped, issued an extraordinary letter urging Caribbean Football Union officials to vote for the incumbent.
Among the clearest calls for reform at the world governing body came from anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International, who said Fifa should allow an external inquiry.
England’s Football Association made a similar call but of more concern to Fifa may be the views of sponsors. Visa Inc and Emirates Airlines were the latest of Fifa’s most important sponsors, or Partners as the governing body calls them, to express disquiet at recent allegations of corruption.
“The current situation is not good for the game and we ask that Fifa take all necessary steps to resolve the concerns that have been raised,” Visa Europe said in a statement.
Emirates airline expressed its concern saying it was “disappointed with the issues that are currently surrounding the administration of the sport”.
Earlier, Coca-Cola said the allegations were “distressing and bad for the sport”. German sportswear maker Adidas also said the controversy had hurt soccer.
The other two members of the six-strong group, Sony and Hyundai-Kia, had made no comment on the recent claims of bribery in the presidential election campaign and in last year’s World Cup vote.
The situation has been widely referred to as the worst crisis the game has faced but Blatter, the 75-year-old Swiss who has run soccer since 1998, has been downplaying the problem.
“Crisis? Where is the crisis?”, Blatter asked reporters in a bad-tempered news conference on Monday.
Crisis or not, former Germany star Franz Beckenbauer, who sits on Fifa’s decision-making executive committee, said the current situation had spoiled the atmosphere. “I feel very sad because the atmosphere before was great,” Beckenbauer said: “I liked to be on the committee. It is the United Nations of football, a really great mixture, but now the atmosphere is very bad.”
The only way Blatter will not be given a new term is if the Congress proposes and passes a motion to call off the election with the support of 75 per cent of voting delegates.
That is unlikely to happen because while Blatter may not be able to connect with fans, he is highly skilled at talking to the only audience that really matters to his future – the voting delegates at the Congress.
Since Blatter became president the governing body has grown rich thanks to its ability to generate billions of dollars from television rights to major tournaments as well as sponsorship deals with large corporations.
FIFA CONGRESS: THE LOWDOWN
What is the congress and what is likely to happen?The congress comprises all 208 member nations of Fifa and is held annually to vote on resolutions and proposals and, once every four years, to vote for a president. This year 205 of the 208 members have voting rights and the key issue they have to decide is whether to go ahead with the presidential election, even though Blatter is the only candidate.
If Blatter is the only candidate, why is there any doubt about him being re-elected?Blatter, who has been president since 1998, was due to face a challenge from Mohamed Bin Hammam of Qatar. However, Bin Hammam pulled out of the race on Sunday and was subsequently banned until at least July, along with another vice-president Jack Warner, by the Ethics Committee from all soccer-related activity relating to alleged bribery charges. Some delegates, including those from England, believe the election of Blatter should be postponed, pending a full investigation into Fifa's affairs.
Is that likely to happen?For the re-election of Blatter to be postponed, 75 per cent of the eligible voting delegates would have to back a proposal. However, most delegates support Blatter, despite Fifa's troubles.
What other key issues is Fifa facing at the congress?There are no other major issues on the agenda, but Fifa has serious concerns in the months ahead, one concerning the 2022 World Cup finals which were awarded to Qatar last December. Fifa's secretary general Jerome Valcke, in an email to Warner, claimed Qatar had "bought" the World Cup, but then said he did not mean they had bought it by paying for votes, but because of the financial strength of their economy.
Doesn't that remark compromise Valcke's position?Blatter, as president, is the only person empowered to remove Valcke from his position, so despite his indiscretion, he is unlikely to go.
Will congress debate the futures of Warner and Bin Hammam following their suspensions?No. The fates of both men will be decided in July when the ethics committee meets.
What does the future hold for Fifa?Even Blatter has said Fifa needs to reform.
Delaney undecided on Fifa vote
FAI CHIEF executive John Delaney was last night said to be consulting with senior Uefa officials before deciding what to do with regard to today’s election for Fifa president in which incumbent, Sepp Blatter, is the only candidate, writes Emmet Malone.
The decision by Delaney, who has previously worked hard to align himself with Michel Platini in public, is no great surprise.
Uefa, however, originally declared its support for Blatter and Platini is widely believed to have thrown his weight behind the current president on the basis that Blatter has said that if re-elected he would not run again, thus paving the way for the Frenchman to run himself next time around.
Asked about the situation yesterday, Marco Tardelli suggested that he was not entirely surprised by recent developments at the game’s governing body. “It is the same man in charge for 14 years, the same people running things. Nothing changes, the processes have been the same. The only difference is that now we know.”
